Joint Federal and Provincial Support Secures $4.3 Million for New Centre for Interprofessional Health Simulation

(November 5, 2026) – Laurentian University is celebrating a major joint investment of over $4.3 million from both the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to create a new bilingual Interprofessional Health Simulation Centre.

The initiative is backed by nearly $2 million from Canadian Heritage through the Community Educational Infrastructure sub-component of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program, alongside $1 million from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, through the Training Equipment and Renewal Fund (TERF), paired with matching institutional support. 

The new simulation laboratory will significantly enhance training for in-demand health fields, including nursing, speech-language pathology, and kinesiology. The facility is designed to feature experiential learning and will include the acquisition of high-fidelity manikins and technology upgrades. These advancements will facilitate the hybrid, remote, and asynchronous delivery of instructional content, as well as crucial telehealth training. 

“Our two official languages are at the heart of who we are as Canadians and help build strong, thriving communities. By investing in modern, bilingual training infrastructure at Laurentian University, we are helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve Francophone and Northern communities,” said the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. “This investment will create new opportunities for students while helping communities access the services and care they need in the language of their choice.”

“Access to trained health care professionals such as nurses and therapists is a real barrier in northern Ontario. This advanced training centre will help us attract and train health care professionals in our region. These are the types of investments that come with real benefits for northerners.” said Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury.

“In the face of economic uncertainty, Ontario’s world-class colleges and universities are integral to building and protecting Ontario’s future workforce,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Through this investment, our government is ensuring that students have the modern tools and facilities they need to stay on the cutting edge of our critical industries in their future careers.”

Complementing these government investments, Laurentian’s health training initiatives are further strengthened by a generous $250,000 estate gift from the late alumna Eva Williton. Driven by a lifelong passion for supporting Northern Ontario communities, Williton’s gift provides critical support for student training and health research, helping to ensure future healthcare professionals have access to both world-class infrastructure and vital academic funding. 

This state-of-the-art lab is a vital investment in Northern Ontario’s healthcare future. The community will benefit from a highly skilled pipeline of bilingual healthcare professionals, better prepared to serve diverse populations. 

“We are immensely grateful to both our federal and provincial partners, as well as generous supporters like the late Eva Williton, for these transformative investments,” said Dr. Lynn Wells, President & Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University. “Together, this public and philanthropic support allows us to establish a state-of-the-art bilingual facility that ensures our graduates are career-ready and equipped to meet the healthcare needs of Northern and Francophone communities.” 

For the region, the integration of AV upgrades and telehealth training addresses the unique challenges of delivering care across long distances. The ability to deliver education remotely and asynchronously ensures that students across Northern Ontario can access specialized training, strengthening the local healthcare workforce and ultimately improving regional health outcomes.